The control device of a vehicle includes a position estimating part configured to estimate a position of the vehicle, and a power output part configured to control the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to output power for running use. The power output part is configured to determine a startup position of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle when the vehicle exits from a low emission zone requesting the internal combustion engine be stopped so that startup positions of internal combustion engines of a plurality of vehicles are dispersed at surroundings of the low emission zone.

A method of operating a vehicle includes generating initial state of charge and vehicle velocity profiles for a travel route, for each initial velocity setpoint defining the vehicle velocity profile, generating a plurality of updated state of charge setpoints, for each of the initial velocity setpoints, selecting one of the updated state of charge setpoints to define an updated state of charge profile, for each of the updated state of charge setpoints that defines the updated state of charge profile, generating a plurality of updated velocity setpoints, for each of the updated state of charge setpoints that defines the updated state of charge profile, selecting one of the updated velocity setpoints to define an updated velocity profile, and controlling operation of an electric machine and engine according to the updated state of charge profile and updated velocity profile over the travel route.

In connection with a user interface for a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive, a driver is able to select whether the hybrid drive is operated in an operating mode which consumes charge, or in an operating mode which retains charge. The user interface is configured to display the charge state of the energy store on a display, and to receive or calculate a charge state variable which is characteristic of the charge state. The charge state variable may be displayed with a first range of values in a first display area during operation of the hybrid drive in the charge-consuming operating mode. The charge state variable may be displayed with a second range of values, which is a subset of the first range of values, in a second display area during operation of the hybrid drive in the charge-retaining operating mode. The second display area is larger than a subrange of the first display area in which the second range of values is displayed.

An object is to enable a vehicle to be sufficiently used as a power source when the vehicle is located in an area where a disaster occurs. There is provided a vehicle including a driving system configured to generate electric power by using a fuel and to output power for driving; a power storage device configured to transmit electric power to and from the driving system; a power feeding device configured to supply generated power that is generated by the driving system and/or electric power from the power storage device, to an external device; and a control device configured to control the driving system and the power feeding device. When the vehicle is located in the area where the disaster occurs, the control device performs a recommendation process to recommend that a user sets a charge priority mode, which gives priority to charging of the power storage device over driving.

In a hybrid vehicle, when a host vehicle is predicted to enter the inside of an engine drive restricted zone where operation of an internal combustion engine (20) is restricted, it is judged if congestion occurs or congestion is predicted as occurring in at least one of a running route leading to the inside of the engine drive restricted zone and a running route at the inside of the engine drive restricted zone. When it is judged that congestion occurs or congestion is predicted as occurring in at least one of a running route leading to the inside of the engine drive restricted zone and a running route at the inside of the engine drive restricted zone, an SOC amount of a battery (3) when the host vehicle enters the inside of the engine drive restricted zone is made to increase compared to when it is judged that congestion does not occur or congestion is predicted as not occurring at both of a running route leading to the inside of the engine drive restricted zone and a running route at the inside of the engine drive restricted zone.

The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for an active convertor dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a system to connect a tractor to a trailer. The apparatus further includes a charge generating system for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer.

A vehicle can take a hybrid driving mode in which the vehicle drives by power output by a first motor generator in response to power supply from at least a second motor generator, and an engine driving mode in which the vehicle drives by power output by at least an engine. When a high load section requiring an assist by the first motor generator is detected in the route on which the vehicle is driving in the engine driving mode, a control device of the vehicle predicts the remaining capacity of the battery in the high load section, and based on the remaining capacity, the control device can control the battery in the high load section before reaching the high load section, based on the remaining capacity of the battery in the high load section, and switch to the hybrid driving mode before reaching the high load section.

A vehicle drive system for a vehicle including a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a rechargeable power source can be configured for reduced fuel consumption at idle. The vehicle drive system includes an electric motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the first prime mover. The control system causes fuel to be eliminated to the first prime mover while the vehicle is stopped and causes the electric motor to rotate the first prime mover at a speed, thereby reducing fuel consumption at idle for the vehicle.

A hybrid electric vehicle includes: a powertrain configured to execute hybrid traveling and power generation, and electric traveling, the hybrid traveling and the power generation being performed through cooperation of an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors; a battery that transmits and receives electric power to and from the powertrain; and a control device. The control device executes management of a remaining battery level of the battery for securing a specific remaining battery level as traveling assistance, when a specific section in which operation of the internal combustion engine is restricted exists on a predicted travel route. The control device executes a selection process for selecting, based on presence or absence of an execution history of the traveling assistance and the remaining battery level, a traveling mode before entering the specific section from a BEV mode, an HEV mode, and a charging mode.

A travel control device includes: a first planning unit that, in response to the automobile being predicted to enter a restricted section in which a traveling condition is restricted, plans a traveling mode satisfying the restricted traveling condition as a first traveling mode in the restricted section; a second planning unit that plans a second traveling mode in a preparation section so as to perform the first traveling mode planned by the first planning unit, the preparation section being defined as a section extending to the restricted section before the automobile enters the restricted section, the second traveling mode adjusting a value of at least one parameter related to the first traveling mode to a preparation value appropriate for the first traveling mode; a control unit that controls travel of the automobile in the preparation section so as to perform the second traveling mode planned by the second planning unit.